Former Chapel of St Helen at Bonhunt Farm (EHER 187)

11th and 12th century chapel altered in the 13th century. In 1340 it was a private chapel of the manor. No longer used as a chapel.

Monument description derived from merging EHER 187 and 36883. Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: St Helen's Chapel (NR). <1> Stone Coffins and Human Bones found (NAT). <2> A small thatched building of 11th to 12th century origin, much repaired in the 13th century. Now used as a stable. In fairly good condition - the chancel and the nave built in the 2nd half of the 12th century still stand. It was a private chapel attached to the manor of Bonhunt. The building overlies earlier Anglo-Saxon burials associated with the Middle Saxon settlement. <3> - <5> A small thatched building about 35 x 25 ft of 11th to 12th century origin, but said to be Saxon or early Norman. Much repaired in the 13th century. Now desecrated and used as a stable. Grade II. <6> In fairly good condition. It consists of a chancel and nave built in the second half of the 12th century. <7> In 1340 John Flambard. of Bonhunt, had licence to grant land to the hospital of St Leonard, Newport, to find a chaplain to celebrate divine service daily in the chapel of St Helen within the manor of Bonhunt. <8> It was a private chapel attached to the manor in 1340 but was not the parish church although numerous burials were found around it, especially in the stack yard. Thought, by the author, to be Saxon due to the 1 ft 11 1/2 ins thick walls, the sloping jambs of the windows, big stones at the base of all quoins and the insertion of early Norman work to a window which possessed earlier characters. <9> Former church of St Helen at Bonhunt Farm [formerly listed as Chapel of St Helen (stable at Bonhunt Farm)]. Small flint and pebble building with stone quoins. It is of 11th to 12th century origin but much repaired in the 13th century. Grade II (see list for details). <10> February 1975. Field survey. St Helen's Chapel (name confirmed) is as described. Excavations by the Dept of Environment show it overlies burials associated with the extensive Anglo Saxon settlement which surrounds the site (TL 53 SW 4). Published 1:2500 survey revised. Excavation report by the Dept of Environment pending completion of restoration. <11>